Toy merry-go-round



Aug. 23, 1932. E. B. ALLABOUGH TOY MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed March 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR [Harmer/1D Aug. 22%, 1932. E. B. ALLABOUGH TOY MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed March 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ezzsmnmfi HLLHBOUGH BY ATTOR EY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 ELLSWORTH B. ALLABOUGI-L, on nvANsron, ILLINOIS TOY runnmr oomoonn Application'filed March 28, 1931. Serial No. 525,892.-

A further object is to provide a toy of this character which is strongly built and durable l and yet of comparatively inexpensive construction.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section;

' Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a smaller scale with the canopy removed; and

Fig. 3 is a bottom View on a similar scale.

The structure, in the form illustrated, comprises a base 1, preferably circular in outline and constructed of plywood. A top 2, or upper disc, also made preferably of ply wood is supported at a suitable distance above c the base by upright members or rods 3 having threaded ends to receive nuts for the purpose of clamping the base and the top in spaced relation, forming a light but rigid structure and one which may be readily taken apart. The base has a central opening or recess 4 in it in which is journaled the lower end of a mast 5 or rotatable shaft or rod which may be made either of wood or metal. This rod has an upper section 5 held in alignment therewith as hereinafter explained, the upper section passing through an opening 6 in the top and having a collar 7 loosely mounted thereon, above said top. A series of radial members 8, preferably in the form of wires, are fitted at the lower ends in holes 9 near the circumference of the upper disc 2, the other ends of said wires being bent down and caused to spring up through openings 10 in the collar 7. These wires are formed with curved ends somewhat as shown in Fig. 1, but so shaped as to require to be bent down, after having the lower ends inserted in the openings of the disc 2, to bring the upper; ends under the collar 7 so that said ends may be inserted through the openings 10 from beneath the same, the wires tending to spring outwardly and thus maintain their position.

A suitable canopy ll may be placed over the'supporting ribs 8 and may be 'made of cloth, paper or other light and suitably decorative material. The canopy extends pref erably a little below the disc 2 andthus conceals the operating mechanism hereinafter described.

The two sections of the mast 5 and 5' are held in vertical alignment by means of a sleeve or coupling in the form of a disc 12, having hubs 13 thereon surrounding the ad jacent ends of the mast sections 5'and to make the same sufiiciently stifi. The disc 12 has a series of flaring radial openings therein which receive the corre spondingly tapered inner ends of radial arms 14 which may be made of wood, although other material will answer the purpose. -Al though six of these radial arms are shown, any desired number may be employed, either greater or less. Wires 15 depend from near the ends of said arms, the upper ends 16 of said wires being coiled around in helical form to slip over the ends of said arms and maintain themselves in place. Each arm may'support atoy figure such as a horse 17 or other animal usually constituting part of a merrygo-round equipment, or small seats may be supported in like man'ner,or various other figures may be associated with the depending supports. The figures are made preferably of light material. r

It will be seen that the structure" as thus far described may be readily taken apart and stored in very compact form. For example, the upright rods 3 are preferably no long-er than the diameter ofthe lower and upper discs 1, 2, and therefore may be laid on' the same when the structure is dismantled, without projecting beyond the sides of the disc's. Also, the mast, although considerably taller than the diameter of saiddiscs, is made in two sections, each shorter than said diameter.

In addition the radial arms may all be pulled out of the hub 12, if desired, and the wires 15 may be pulled ofi of the ends of said arms, whether the latter are removed from the hub I or not. Also, the wires 8 supporting the canopy are all removable and may be laid down flat upon one of the discs. All the parts may be taken apart and reassembled without the use of any tools except what is required for tightening the nuts on the ends of the rods 3.

In order to rotate the mast and the parts carried thereby, a cord or other flexible mem ber 18 is provided which is wrapped around the mast as shown at 19 with one end attached to a spring 20 or other yielding anchor gfi-i For example,ra rubber band may be employed or a suitably arranged weight on the end of the string after it passes over arpulley.; In the preferred form shown, the ,end of the spring is secured to one of the upright rods 3 and the string passes substantially diametrically across the structure beneath thehdisc 2 and passes over a pulley 21 mounted in a suitable bracket 22 and bolted or otherwise suitably secured at 23 to the upper disc 2. The depending end of the string may have a ball 24 or other enlargement, handle or loop at the end thereof in such position as to be readily accessible. When the operator pulls downwardly on the end attachment 24, the spring 20 is extended, the

string-where. it is wrapped around the mast section 5 binding with sufficient friction to rotate thev mast and the various figures carried thereby. When the pull on the string is relaxed,'the spring returns to its initial position but without substantial friction or bindingof said string on said mast section, such as would cause a reverse rotation thereof, as the-tension on the string is relaxedat the time. i The rotating parts slow down somewhat, but as the string is pulled again they are speeded up and although all the parts are preferably made quite light, there issuflicient inertia to keep them rotating at a. fairly uniform rate by pulling on the string repeatedly and at regular intervals. lVhat I claim is: i A toy merry-goi-round comprising a base, a top, upright members holding the two in spaced relation, a mast journaled in said bas and in said top, said-mast consisting of two aligned sections and a coupling member therefor, radial arms carried by said coupling member for supporting toy figures and a cord secured at one end in yielding means to partof the structure, with its other end available for manipulation, and an-intermediate portion wrapped around said mast whereby intermittent pulls on said available endwill cause continuous rotation of said mast and the parts carried thereby. In testimony whereof, I have subscribed myname. a

. VELLSWORTH B. ALLABOUGH. 

